When she wasn't in the presence of others, Nephthys allowed her mask to skip. She reverted from the confident, sexually-charged attention whore into the lonely little girl she was. Despite all the peacocking, there was no substance beneath her skin. Without Bhaskar she felt absolutely useless, but how long? How long would she look for him? Was there a chance Naga was still alive? What would she do if Bhas came home one day with their son in tow? It would be mortifying to explain what she had done in his absence. There was no way she would ever be able to look him in the eyes again, so where did that leave her? Alone. Alaric wanted her body. Ronin.. she wasn't sure what Ronin wanted, but she knew he was too raw to even consider more. Nephthys didn't want more, anyway – or that's what she told herself. Truthfully, she just wanted whatever hurt less in the end. Being a wife and being a mother had caused substantial pain, so now what?

Nephthys sighed, wading into the chilly waters. If she was physically numb, maybe it would eventually sap all the feeling from her mind as well.

if you fall down and worship me

all these things i will give you,

There is much to behold in the land of the non believers. Cobalt exterior shuddered with awakening delight as he roamed the snowy plateau with the confidence of a god soaked into every stride. He is neither King nor Lord, yet the behemoth's piercing gaze surveyed all as if it were his entirely.
A flash of red snagged into the outer edges of his vision and the male rotated his large skull to gain a clearer view of the sultry figure as it descended into the dangerous embrace of the lake, where waters must run cold enough to freeze the blood.
Acheron had already turned toward the siren of the lake. Winged feet taking the giant to the very edge between snow and water before he called out, curious and intrigued, but not concerned. "Heavenly creature, there are many more pleasurable ways to find ascension." The devil smiled, before stepping into the lake after her.

@Nephthys

code by corvus / image by kim

The water had teeth. Icy, needle-like daggers piercing into her skin with every step deeper into the lake. She was a creature accustomed to the warmth, preferring the humid jungle or the desert heat over cooler climates. It was strange to have intentionally wandered so far north, but it stirred a memory deep within of when she had fallen through the ice. That was the last time she had been in the mountains. Fortunately, the weather was too warm now for the ice to freeze over entirely; and where it was frozen, the layer was paper thin. Nephthys wasn't concerned about slipping under and losing sight of the surface. Not this time, anyway.

Heavenly creature, the voice called. Nephthys knew it had been directed at her, but she couldn't help the near-mocking laugh. The disbelief was plain on her face even as she turned to peer at him over her shoulder, noting with some dismay that he was pursuing. Heavenly? Not quite. Perhaps I want to sink to the depths to be closer to hell where I was born. And as quickly as the mask had slipped, she snapped it back into place.

@Acheron

if you fall down and worship me

all these things i will give you,

The iced touch of the lake invaded the senses, chilling him to the bone and wringing out from betwixt curved lips a slight spasm and gasp of the bitterly cold winter's air. Yet determination had long ago begun to hollow out what remained of the mortal in him. The winged creature felt most alive when death or pain drew near and whispered sweetly upon his dark ears.

Dark toes splayed and found a steady purchase upon the lake bed as he waded further in, in pursuit of the red siren. Though for what purpose it is not known. Even unto himself. There is little that drives Acheron except want and impulse. Sometimes it is knowledge he seeks, other times it is not.

Humoured, there is no end to the pervasive smile as he hunted down his quarry and aimed to close the distance. "Then take me with you, Siren. For I long for an audience with my father."

@Nephthys

code by corvus / image by kim

The masquerade she hosted always seemed to be a hit with the guests. Although she danced beneath the spotlight with graceful strides, the most important part of the game was having a partner. Without one, there would be no reason for the fanfare; but as long as she had an audience, Nephthys would dance. So what if her partner this time around was gargantuan? So what if that reminded her of Bhaskar and his ability to toss her around? Not that he ever touched her roughly, no, he was as gentle of a giant as they came. It was almost a pity, she thought, that a man of that size hadn't capitalized off his stature for battle. It was all too likely @Acheron did, however, and she was not immune to an anxious fluttering in her stomach as he continued to chase her into the water.

It's a bit early to tell me about your daddy issues, isn't it? Nephthys teased over her shoulder, peering at him with emerald eyes that gave nothing away. You may have an audience with your father whenever you like. It's not my place to tell you no. But if he expected her to weep over his dead body, he would be sorely mistaken.

if you fall down and worship me

all these things i will give you,

The water moved against him, pushing back against wide blue chest with each eager step taken in her direction. Muscular shoulders tensed and fought forward, anticipation rising as he tasted with his wanton tongue her scent upon the air. Pale eyes rolling back into his skull as he finds root in baser longings.
The giant grew colder, more numb with each passing second but he does not give up. He cannot. He began to swim, powerful strokes that would hopefully aid him to come up behind the lioness. Though it would depend on her own skill, or perhaps desire, to evade hiscapture.
"Do we not all suffer under the disappointment of our fathers?" He replied, eyes roving openly across her enticing figure, half obscured by the lake water.
"Since you are borne from the murky depths of hell then we have a father in common." He laughed, dark and with a look of increasing intensity. "I have been told more than once that I must be the spawn of lucifier himself." Unfortunately for the fallen one, his earth father was very much alive, though had long since disowned any part of him.

"What do you say, Siren? Do we submerge ourselves and meet our maker?" Brow lifted, lips peeling to accentuate his dark smile.
@Nephthys

code by corvus / image by kim

What a strange man, she thought to herself as her toes left the ground. Nephthys paddled until it was nothing but her head above water, hardly expecting @Acheron to pursue into such depths. What fool would intentionally follow a woman to their icy doom? Maybe she was a siren, after all, luring men to their deaths at the hand of the water. It was the only logical (and it wasn’t very logical at all) conclusion she could come to; otherwise, she feared the man might have a few loose screws. If he thought she was this heavenly being sent to lure him, maybe he was simply playing along.

Either way, she hadn’t expected him to be within touching distance the next time she turned to look. Nephthys’ brow furrowed as she studied him, but she didn’t let an ounce of her discontent bleed through to her expression.

Unfortunately, darling, my father has never found anything to be disappointed with when it comes to his favorite daughter, and can you blame him? I’m luring a man to his death by batting my eyelashes. What father doesn’t want that kind of power for his daughter? I can’t relate to your woes, I’m afraid. Nor was she afraid to brag about it, apparently.

He wanted to dive, she supposed. Nephthys tread the water where she was, eyeing him with a bored interest. After you, darling.

if you fall down and worship me

all these things i will give you,

Gaze pinched in mirth, narrowed in amusement at her sass laden reply. "Of course, what ever else might a father hope for." He mocked, teasing enveloped in the smoothness of his voice. Some fathers might hope for a scholarly daughter, learned, accomplished and virtuous. As his had hoped for dear Skorvaga. Though he rather preferred this Siren's sire by the sounds of it.
Gargantuan form continued to swim, skull bobbing up and down with each stroke and ceasing only when there was but a few feet between them. Large pads reach beneath, paddling slow and purposeful sweeps downward to keep him afloat in the still waters. Of all his failings as a scholar, Acheron was a strong swimmer.
Penetrative stare beheld the nymph in her glory, near enough to reach out and touch. Though she shies from the suggestion set before her and this brings out the lusty cruelty within him. "And if I was not, lured?" He brightens, inching closer. "What if I have chased you..." He reaches out a powerful arm, aiming to press down upon her beautiful shoulder. Smiling as he attempts to push her beneath the surface.
@Nephthys

code by corvus / image by kim

Warning bells began to sound the closer he came, but of course Nephthys fucking Tollaire was not about to let some blue boy with daddy issues intimidate her. She sucked in a sharp breath and let her emerald gaze dart towards the shore for the briefest of moments. If she needed to exit quickly, her only hope was that she would be swifter than him. Nephthys could dart for the shore and pray his mane would weigh him down just enough for her to get an early start, but where would she go? Ecrosia wasn't exactly close by and she had no allies anywhere except Wolfbron, and even those were.. well, actually, she wasn't sure if they existed or not anymore.

Then I would say you woke the wrong fucking dragon, darling. Her voice was steel and flame as her gaze narrowed on him. Within an instant his paw was on her skin and he was shoving her down, leaving her only enough time for a small gasp of air before being plunged underneath. She attempted to writhe from beneath his hold and twist her body before attempting to swing her jaws upwards, hoping to snap that very paw between her teeth. Although she did not often start violence, Nephthys would be damned if she didn't try to end it.

if you fall down and worship me

all these things i will give you,

Oh she is more. So much more than his wretched soul had dared hope for. Taking a chance upon a stranger as he had, it so rarely gave satisfactory return. Viper like, her threatening words injected pleasure in to his veins. "Oh, I do hope so." The devil retained his smile and watched as her lovely face disappeared beneath the water's surface, a blur of red fur underneath his extended blue arm. Bubbles desperately cascading to the surface. He floated with the remaining three limbs, moving serenely beneath him, as if he was not in the midst of drowning her at all.
But he does not seek to extinguish her flame. What use or excitement would that contain? Even as he contemplates lightening his weight, she does not disappoint. Ah, heavenly, indeed.
The figure under his large paw writhed, moving snake like and though he instinctively sought to try and keep his hold of her, it was her sweet mouth that clasped ferociously onto his dark foot. The celestial winced and then hissed in delight as blood seeped out from the puncture wounds caused by her fangs. He does not retract the limb, but gives it over to her possession, lightening any lingering weight to not hinder her surfacing.
In fact, he aims to use his other, uninjured forepaw to try and connect with her armpit. If successful, he would try to aid her ascension into the air. Using now just his rear legs to tread the ice water.

@Nephthys

code by corvus / image by kim